LORENZO Clark may only have just taken up his new job, but he's been plunged straight into the deep end.

As the new manager of Hambleton Leisure Centre in Northallerton, he is overseeing not only a £50,000 refurbishment project, but the introduction of a new leisure card.

He has joined the team after 19 years in Leeds, managing centres for Leeds City Council and latterly as operations manager at South Leeds Stadium.

He takes over the role as manager of Hambleton Leisure Centre, Hambleton Forum and Northallerton's floodlit pitch from Richard Dowson, who has gone after 13 years to take up a new post with Durham County Cricket Club.

And it was straight into action for the new manager, as £50,000 is currently being spent replacing the sports floor.

In addition, the new Fastcard leisure card is being rolled out across all Hambleton-run centres from April 4.

"The two centres and the pitch are an exciting challenge for me and I am looking forward to implementing some of my own ideas to further improve them for the community," he said.

The sports hall will be closed until April 4 to replace the floor, damaged by the 2000 floods.